More than 50 aircraft were on display Sunday at the Oakland County International Airport for its annual open house, but Ayden Mosey and his 5-year-old brother Noah liked the fighter jets the best.

“They took off and didn’t come back,” said Ayden, 7, during the event at the airport, which sits at M-59 and Airport Road in Waterford.

The young brothers came with their father, Mike, from Macomb Township, and ended their day taking a picture in front of the Detroit Pistons’ traveling jet, Roundball One.

“The boys want to learn how to fly now,” said Mike Mosey after snapping the shot.

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Hundreds from Oakland County and elsewhere who attended were able to get up close with World War II planes, “Tuskeegee Airmen” gliders, professional unmanned aircraft, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and much more during the open house, which is in its 29th year.

An air show — with planes taking off and doing turns every few minutes — kept adults occupied, while at one end of the tarmac, a Kidz Zone kept kids happy. Paratroopers parachuted from planes at one point, and the University of Michigan Hospital flight team came to give a demonstration, among many other activities hosted by the Feldman Automotive Group and other local organizations.

Bloomfield Hills resident Victor Nava said his son loved the Yankee Air Force B-25.

“We went to the Air Force museum in Ohio, and since then he’s liked airplanes a lot,” said Nava, whose family recently moved to Michigan from Mexico City, Mexico. “It (was) an incredible time to spend valuable hours with my son and family.”

Chris Hass, 22, was sitting under a tent with his 25-pound, radio-controlled airplane on display as onlookers asked questions and stopped to get a look at the miniature gliders.

Hass, in eighth place in the world for freestyle aerobatics in competition, competes across the country and has been doing so for 18 years.

“I just love this hobby because I get to experiment and try new things all the time ... and come up with new maneuvers and new ideas to make these airplanes do things they probably shouldn’t,” said Hass.

Hass added he was skeptical about the weather early on during the open house, but the sun came out and the event was “awesome.”

For more about the airport’s annual open house, visit www.ociaopenhouse.org.

About the Author

John Turk covers the police beat and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for The Oakland Press. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Reach the author at john.turk@oakpress.com
or follow John on Twitter: @jrturk.